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Diana and Her Nymphs Spied on by Satyrs

Original title: Diana and Her Nymphs Spied on by Satyrs

Artist

Thomas Rowlandson

Date

1790–1799

Medium

Etching and stipple, hand-colored

Dimensions

Sheet (trimmed, part of platemark at right): 7 9/16 × 9 3/4 in. (19.2 × 24.8 cm)

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1959

kurzbeschreibung

Thomas Rowlandson produced the hand-colored etching with stipple, Diana and Her Nymphs Spied on by Satyrs, between 1790 and 1799. The print brings together the hunt goddess Diana and her nymphs, who are watched by satyrs.

Description

Diana reclines nude on a cushion or bed, an arrow in her hand; around her, nymphs sit or lie. Two bearded, horned satyrs look on—one holds a flower, the other leans over the nymphs. Further back, more figures appear, along with a dog and a donkey in a wooded landscape. The layout sharply separates the main figures from the observers; muted browns and grays dominate, with a few bright accents such as the flower.

Context

Rowlandson, an English artist and caricaturist, became known for his satirical and often erotic works. In the 1790s he produced numerous prints with mythological and erotic subjects. This piece belongs to a group that mixed classical themes with humorous or bawdy elements.

Impact

Diana's calm pose contrasts with the curious satyrs. The blend of realistic detail and comic exaggeration creates an ambivalent mood that shifts between idyll and voyeurism.

Technique

As an etching with stippling, the print uses fine dots for shading. The colors were then applied by hand, which brings out the details and drama of the scene.

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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)